Kho kho: The traditional Indian sport that originated in the times of Mahabharata
Kho kho isn’t a game that needs much of an introduction. Some of you might have witnessed or perhaps even participated in a game of kho kho, at some point of time. Like any other game, kho kho is played between two teams which switch places between chasing and running. Two innings of chasing and running (defending) make one kho kho match. The chasing team members sit in a single line, facing opposite sides, alternately. The chasing team’s sole objective is to catch the members of the opposite team who are running around them and score points. The game is played in two innings and each inning has two turns. Each inning lasts for nine minutes. The two teams take turns to chase and defend. The team with the most points wins the match. Do you know that kho kho originated in rural India? The game has existed for thousands of years and has evolved into what we see today. Yet not much is known about this traditional sport. Well then, let’s dive into the world of kho kho!
The tactics of kho kho originated in Mahabharata!
What if we told you the tactics of kho kho originated in Mahabharata? Yes, the game takes inspiration from a war practice of Mahabharata! On the 13th day of the epic battle, the general of the Kaurava clan, Dronacharya, instructed the creation of a military formation called ‘Chakravyuha’. Only Arjuna’s son, Abhimanyu, was qualified to enter this Chakravyuha that could defeat Kauravas. Although he eventually died, Abhimanyu could inflict heavy casualties on the Kaurava clan by using the tactic used in current-day kho kho. Another story is that, during this time, the game of kho kho was played using chariots. Chariots are called ‘Rath’ in Hindi and Sanskrit. Therefore, the sport was also known as ‘Rathera’.
The Deccan Gymkhana in Pune shaped modern kho kho
If you have to pin-point one organization that has shaped kho kho as we know today, it would be the Deccan Gymkhana, Pune. The Gymkhana was founded in 1906 by Lokmanya Tilak, a philosopher and ardent Indian nationalist. The efforts by the Deccan Gymkhana gave the game structure, rules and regulations. This made kho kho more acceptable to the masses. The first game of kho kho can be traced back to 1914. In 1955, the Akhil Bhartiya Kho-Kho Mandal was established as India’s official kho kho federation. Under this federation, the first national kho kho championship was played in Vijayawada in 1959 at the national level. By 1982, the kho kho federation was made a part of the Indian Olympic Association.
Putting kho kho on the global map
During the 1987 South Asian Games held at Kolkata, kho kho was demonstrated to the world. It was also during this period that the Asian Kho-Kho Federation was formed. This helped sensitize countries such Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to kho kho. Although the game has now caught the attention of South Asian countries, it is yet to charm Europeans and Americans. The secretary of the Indian Olympics Association, Rajeev Mehta, is working on including kho kho in the 2026 Asian Games to be hosted by Japan.
Kho kho facts
- India scored two gold medals in the 2016 South Asian Games in kho kho
- International games of kho kho are played on special mats that are designed with better grip for the runners and chasers. However, local games of kho kho are still played in the mud!
- Kho kho is just like the children’s game of tag, but the chaser here can exchange their place with other sitting members by saying the word ‘kho’.